Sanitary dispenser for cartridges holding fluid medicants



De 22, 1964 J. E. GILBERTSON 3,162,322

SANITARY DISPENSER EDR CARTRIDGES HOLDING FLUID MEDIcANTs Filed March 29, 1962 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent Office 3,162,322 Patented Dec. 22, 1964 3,162,322 SANITARY DISPENSER FR CARTRIDGES HGLDING FLUID MEDICANTS John E. Gilbertson, 3209 Douglas Ave., Des Moines, Iowa Filed Mar. 29, 1962, Ser. No. 183,564 7 Claims. (Cl. 221--135) This invention relates to a dispenser means and more particularly to one that will hold, sanitize, and dispense cartridges holding iluid medicants for use in injection pump guns.

The practice of dentistry and medicine requires the injection of various medicines into patients. The common method was to lill the barrel of the gun with the liquid to be injected, insert the hollow needle into the patient, and manually force the plunger forwardly, thereby eX- pelling the liquid into the patient. In recent times the liquid filling of the gun has been greatly simplied. Many practitioners now use pre-filled cartridges. These cartridges are of tubular construction having a movable sealing piston in one end and a rupturable seal at its other end. The pre-filled cartridge is placed in the injection gun, and the unit is ready for use. While these cartridges do greatly facilitate the giving of necessary injections, there are certain objections and problems. The cartridges are received by the doctor in a single container holding a considerable number of cartridges in vertical assembly. Firstly, the cartridges are rather diicult to individually remove from the container, and secondly, the removal of a cartridge requires that its end portion be engaged by the hand of the one effecting the removal of the cartridge. Experts of sanitation are of the opinion that t this method of handling the cartridge may well contaminate the cartridges and thus spread disease.

Therefore one of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a dispenser device for individually dispensing cartridges holding liquid medicants.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cartridge dispenser that eliminates the objectionable manual touching of the two end areas of the cartridges.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a cartridge dispensing device that disinfects the ends of the cartridge as it is dispensed.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a dispensing machine that will not become clogged or jammed by the objects being dispensed.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a dispensing device that is easily manually actuated.

Still further objects of my invention are to provide a dispensing machine that is economical in manufacture, durable in use, and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled yin the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination, of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: e

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of my cartridge dispenser taken on line 1-1 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the dispenser; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the device and more fully illustrates its construction.

In these drawingsl have used the numeral to generally designate the housing portion of my dispenser. The numeral 11 designates a multiple cartridge holding compartment in the upper rear of the housing. A lid 12 closes the upper portion of this compartment 11. The numeral 13 designates a Wide cartridge passageway throat extending forwardly and downwardly from the forward bottom end of the compartment 11. The outer forward end of the throat communicates with the top of a wide horizontal slot bearing 15, as shown in FIG. 1. The forward end area of this slot 15 is closed at each side area by the wall barriers 16 and 17, respectively. These barriers also extend in a hook around the corners of the forward open end of the slot 15, as shown in FIG. 2. The extreme forward top of the slot 15 is cut away to provide a top opening 19. The housing 10 is held a distance above a supporting surface 20 by feet 21. The forward end top of slot 15 back of the opening 19 has a centrally located cut-away kopening 22. The numeral 23 designates the cartridges and the width of the compartment 11, throat 13, and at least the forward end of the slot 15 is greater than that of the lengths ofthe cartridges. Slidably mounted in the horizontal slot 15 is a tongue plate piston 25. The central forward area of this plate piston is cut away to provide an open area 26. This plate piston is yieldingly held in its forward sliding position by a spring 27 positioned between the back of the tongue piston and the rear wall of the slot 15. When the tongue piston is in such forward position, it will extend under and close the forward outlet of the throat 13 as shown in FIG. l, and when the tongue piston is in a rear sliding position, its forward end will be to the rear of the outlet end of the throat 13. 'Io facilitate the manual actuation of the piston tongue, I provide a horizontal slot 29 through the side wall of the housing and secure to the tongue piston a handle 3i). The handle 30 extends through the slot 29 and has to its rear a fixed handle 31 on the side of the housing 10. By manually squeezing the two handles 30 and 31 together, the handle 30 will be moved to the rear carrying with it the tongue piston 25. When the forward end of the tongue piston clears the exit end of the throat 13, a cartridge 23 will by force of gravity, drop downwardly into the slot cavity 15, and forward of the tongue piston. By merely releasing the handle 30, the spring 27 will force the tongue piston forwardly, thereby moving the dropped cartridge` forwardly into the open end of the slot 15 and to the limiting stop hook barriers 16 and 17, as shown in FIG. 3. On the inner forward two side walls of the slot 15 I have mounted a disinfectant absorbing block 32 of flexible resilient material such as sponge rubber. When the dropped cartridge is moved to the barriers 16 and 17, its two ends will engage these two disinfecting pads 32 and thereby be sterilized. When the dropped cartridge is needed, it is merely necessary to graps the cartridge between the nger and thumb and lift it upwardly and away from my dispenser. However, due to the construction of my dispenser and particularly the cut-away areas 22 and 26, the cartridge can only be grasped at its central area and thus the ends of the cartridge will remain sanitary and not be contaminated from manual handling. Each time the handle 30 is actuated, another cartridge will be moved into the open forward end of the slot 15. To prevent the undersirable jamming of the tube cartridges in the throat 13, I provide an agitation means. A projection 33 is formed on the top of the tongue piston, and when the tongue piston is moved rearwardly it will contact and move the loosely mounted headed post 35, which has its upper end communicating with the inside bottom of the throat passageway 13. A newsupply of cartridges is deposited in the compartment 11 by Way of the lid 12. n

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my sanitary dispenser for cartridges holding fluid medicants without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

l. -In a dispensing means for dispensing' liquid holding a housing having a compartmentfor holdingaplural; ity of tubular members, Y v q Y v said housing having a Vhorizontal slot-therein,VV` said housing havingnotches in wallsrenclosing said horizontal slot,

a passageway in said housing having one end cornmunicating with the insidegbottom ofV said vcompartment and its other` end communicating `with the inside top ofsaid horizontal slot, j j piston slidable in said horizontal slot,closing said y 'passageway when in a forwardslidingposition, yand tothe rear of saidpas'sageway. when in ,a rear slid;v ingY p'sition,v y Y said piston Yhaving, a notch inthe forwardcentral end thereof to accommodate the linger and thumb of one y removing a tubular member from Vsaid horizontal 'Slortnf 1j. f Y I 1 f Y and @disinfectant means associated: with said horizontal'slot.. v f, .Y 2. Ina dispensing means Vfor dispensing liquid `holding tubular members usedin the -ield of medicine and dentistry,in combination, l Y t Y j a housing having a compartment forn holding'a pluralv ity ofI tubular members, 1 v 1 said housinghavingahorizontal slot therein, Y

said housing havin'gysidewallmembers on opposite ends of said ,horizontal slot@ a disinfectant holding means wal1-membersr, v v v anda piston slidably mounted in said slot for moving atubular member into aposition where its two ends will contact: said disinfectant holding means. 2

on each nfA the v twov side 3. In a Vdispensing,means-f for dispensing liquidV holdj ,Y

ing tubular members used in rthe field of medicine and dentistry, in combination, f

a housing having a` compartment for holding a plurality of tubular members, i l 'Y saidhousing having a horizontal slottherein,l

said' housing having. side. wall members on opposte eDdS- 0f Said horizontal fslot,v f

` a1disinfectant-,holding,means on Yeachof the two-,side

ywall members,

a piston slidably mounted Vin said slot forfrnovinga` as f tubular member" into ak position where'itsetwo ends Willcontact` said disinfectant holdingl means, v

said-two disinfectantV meansV being of iiexible resilient`r` Yliquid'absorbing material. u l Y Y V 4. `In Vadispensing means for dispensing liquid 'holding ity of tubular members, Y Y Y said housing having a'hforizontal slot therein,

Y tubular members used in the iield of medicinefandfdentistry, in combination, Y f i 'y f' l a housing having a `compartment for holding a-'pluralsaid housing Vhaving' notchesL inv walls enclosing Lsaid ,v

horizontal slot, Y f

,n Y a passageway' imsaid'rhousing 4having Vone end *com-Y municating'withitheinsidebottom of--saidcomparty ment andits othergend communicating With the: in- Y if side-top ofvsaidhorizontal slot,

passageway when :in a` forward .sliding position, and

to the, rear of Y A Y Y i Ving "positiom 1 saidl piston -haviV thereof to accommodate the, finger andthumb ,of

onejL removing .a ,tubular` Vmemberfrom said horizoiltali'slt,'"lV aV disinfectant means: associated with said vhorizontal `slot, i' f ka pistonV slidabla/in -said `howlizontal slot, rclosingwsaid v v'antifa handle Vineinber'fonfsaid'piston means ,toffacilitate'f'itsmanual movement: f

saidnpassageway WheninY a rear slidig a inthe Yf'orvt'faidcentral end,

5. In a dispensing means for-dispensing liquid holding tubular members used-in the eld of nierdicineeand denf tistry, in combination,

a passageway in said housing having one end communicating with the inside bottom of said compartment and .itsother end'communicating with the inside top of saidl horizontal slot, Y f af piston slidable' in said horizontalslot, closing said passageway when inra forward sliding position, and

,to the rear of said'passageway when in a rear slid- I ing position, Y Y

i said piston having.V anotch, in Vthe forward central end f thereof to accommodatethenger and thumb of one removingy a tubular member from Vsaid horizontal slot, aV disinfectant kslot,-k V i ahandle member onsaid piston to facilitate its manual ,mos/ement, Y Y, v and a springrmeans for yieldingly holding saidpiston `meansin 'onefdirection of its sliding movement. A V6. In aV dispensing-means forA dispensing liquid holdf ing-dispensable members used in -the field of -medicine and dentistry, in combinationh p meansrassociated with said horizontal a housingy havmg a compartmentfor holdingfa plurality of dispensable memberAV ,Y i Y 1 saidhousing havingfa horizontal. slot, therein,

said. housing having-'notches in. walls enclosing' said q 'horizontal' slot, f z 'I Y ai passageway inI said'V housing. having .oneendl communicating with the inside bottom of said lcompartment andL its other end communicating with the 'inside toppf said horizontal slot, Y a piston slidable-insaid horizontal slot, closing said passageway Whenin a forward sliding-position, and `to the yrear of said passageway when in a rear slidingjposition, y l, said -piston having a notch'in the forward central end 'l Y thereof to accommodate the nger'andthumb of one .r'lemoving'a dispensable member.v from said horizontal ,SQt,ww. f and a disinfectant means associated with said horifzontalslot; Y I f In, a; dispensing means for dispensing liquid holding'tubular members usedin the eld of medicine and dentistry,in combination, a housinghaving la compartmentffor holding a plurality of tubular membera; g 5 v said housinghavinga horizontal slot'inits lower forsaid housingfhaying .thereina notch in the; top forward area,zbottomYforward'area and central forward end {Wall-"area, infcom'munication with# said horizontal Slob. -V 'Q1 Y passageway. V,in Saidhoiising having one endcommunicating/ withfthe'inside bottom fof, said Vcompart- 'mentaudits other end* communicating with the i11- sids'tgpig'said.horizontalslot,j ,Y Y

'piston slidablebinfsaid;l horizontalslot, closing said passageway when in. avforwardf sliding position and toftltiefreanV of said passageway-when in arear-'sliding position,V n Y 'Y Y Y an arcuate shaped projection ion the-forward; toppor- Vtion of saidpiston, Y l Va headedrpost inzsad housing having its upper headed end incommunicationwith the' insidefbottom yof said passageway andv its?` lower?V end :in kcommunication (with v ^'said "horizontal f slotand in the sliding path of said arcuate shaped'projection on said piston, Whereby said post will engage said projection when said piston slidably moves rearwardly,

said piston having a notch in the forward central end thereof to accommodate the linger and thumb of one removing a tubular member from said horizontal slot,

said housing having side wall members on opposite ends of said horizontal slot,

a disinfectant holding means on each of the two side wall members,

said two disinfectant means being of flexible, resilient,

liquid absorbing material,

a handle member on said piston means to facilitate its manual movement,

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 513,472 Alexander Jan. 30, 1894 693,933 Webb Feb. 25, 1902 926,316 Cairns June 29, 1909 979,318 Marriott Dec. 20, 1910 2,210,313 Eckert Aug. 6, 1940 2,342,747 Mayer Feb. Y29, 1944 2,419,050 Ashwood Apr. 15, 1947 2,716,973 Desi Sept. 6, 1955 2,834,513 Schupp May 13, 1958 

7. IN A DISPENSING MEANS FOR DISPENSING LIQUID HOLDING TUBULAR MEMBERS USED IN THE FIELD OF MEDICINE AND DENTISTRY, IN COMBINATION, A HOUSING HAVING A COMPARTMENT FOR HOLDING A PLURALITY OF TUBULAR MEMBERS, SAID HOUSING HAVING A HORIZONTAL SLOT IN ITS LOWER FORWARD END, SAID HOUSING HAVING THEREIN A NOTCH IN THE TOP FORWARD AREA, BOTTOM FORWARD AREA AND CENTRAL FORWARD END WALL AREA, IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID HORIZONTAL SLOT, A PASSAGEWAY IN SAID HOUSING HAVING ONE END COMMUNICATING WITH THE INSIDE BOTTOM OF SAID COMPARTMENT AND ITS OTHER END COMMUNICATING WITH THE INSIDE TOP OF SAID HORIZONTAL SLOT, A PISTON SLIDABLE IN SAID HORIZONTAL SLOT, CLOSING SAID PASSAGEWAY WHEN IN A FORWARD SLIDING POSITION AND TO THE REAR OF SAID PASSAGEWAY WHEN IN A REAR SLIDING POSITION, AN ARCUATE SHAPED PROJECTION ON THE FORWARD TOP PORTION OF SAID PISTON, A HEADED POST IN SAID HOUSING HAVING ITS UPPER HEADED END IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE INSIDE BOTTOM OF SAID PASSAGEWAY AND ITS LOWER END IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID HORIZONTAL SLOT, AND IN THE SLIDING PATH OF SAID ARCUATE SHAPED PROJECTION ON SAID PISTON, WHEREBY SAID POST WILL ENGAGE SAID PROJECTION WHEN SAID PISTON SLIDABLY MOVES REARWARDLY, SAID PISTON HAVING A NOTCH IN THE FORWARD CENTRAL END THEREOF TO ACCOMODATE THE FINGER AND THUMB OF ONE REMOVING A TUBULAR MEMBER FROM SAID HORIZONTAL SLOT, SAID HOUSING HAVING SIDE WALL MEMBERS ON OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID HORIZONTAL SLOT, A DISINFECTANT HOLDING MEANS ON EACH OF THE TWO SIDE WALL MEMBERS, SAID TWO DISINFECTANT MEANS BEING OF FLEXIBLE, RESILIENT, LIQUID ABSORBING MATERIAL, A HANDLE MEMBER ON SAID PISTON MEANS TO FACILITATE ITS MANUAL MOVEMENT, AND A SPRING MEANS FOR YIELDINGLY HOLDING SAID PISTON MEANS IN ONE DIRECTION OF ITS SLIDING MOVEMENT. 